Clippers, Care, and Community
Bellus Academy Serves San Diego’s Veterans During the Christmas Holiday
This Christmas season, Bellus Academy brought the spirit of the season to the Veterans Village of San Diego. On December 19th, service, compassion, and community came together during the organization’s annual Christmas lunch for residents. Students from Bellus Academy provided haircuts, manicures, waxing services, and arm and hand massages for veterans and residents during the celebration – an event attended by more than 250 residents from Veterans Village of San Diego and Father Joe’s Villages! In a season defined by generosity, the message was clear: Bellus Academy doesn’t just lead in the beauty industry — it leads with heart.
For over 40 years, the Veterans Village of San Diego (VVSD) has served homeless veterans, their families, and those at risk of homelessness. Each year, the organization supports thousands of veterans across San Diego County through comprehensive services that include housing, mental health therapy, workforce development, case management, legal assistance, food, clothing, and support for women and children. Bellus Academy’s participation in the organization’s annual Christmas lunch event represents one of the many community outreach efforts Bellus Academy supports throughout the year. This collaboration between Bellus Academy and the veterans organizations creates new opportunities, expands community awareness, broadens understanding of who Bellus Academy is, and further solidifies the school’s relationship with the San Diego community.
The Christmas lunch event was attended by more than 250 residents from Veterans Village of San Diego and Father Joe’s Villages. Bellus Academy arrived with 12 students from all three California campuses, representing their Barbering, Barbering Cosmetology, Esthetics & Esthetics 103, Cosmetology Foundation, Advanced Cosmetology, and Spa Nail Technician programs.Under the supervision of their instructors, the students collectively provided more than 30 haircuts, manicures, waxing services, and arm and hand massages throughout the day.
The event was truly special – holiday music played softly in the background while residents gathered over hot cocoa, cookies, and cupcakes. There were raffle prizes, photos with Santa, and moments that lingered: children chatting with Santa Claus, parents watching from nearby, and veterans smiling in the chair as clippers buzzed and hands worked with care. Community volunteers helped staff additional stations offering winter clothing, socks, and personal hygiene items, creating an atmosphere of warmth and camaraderie that extended far beyond the services being provided.
For many Bellus Academy students, it was their first time participating in a community outreach event. Several students shared afterward that the experience was both humbling and energizing, wishing they had taken part in similar events sooner. For the students, it was a win-win: an opportunity to hone their skills while giving back, connecting with the community, and seeing how their craft can help restore dignity in moments where it is needed most.
Among the Bellus Academy students were individuals whose own military service added a deeper layer of meaning to the day. Participants included active-duty Navy Airman Rachell Russo, Marine veteran Ivan Lopez, Navy veteran Brandon Angulo, and Air Force veteran Mr. Floyd Carmona, creating a powerful connection between those serving and those being served.
Ivan Lopez, a Barber student from Bellus Academy’s Chula Vista campus and a Marine veteran, reflected on the day’s impact. Lopez said, “It reminds us that our personal services mean a lot, especially to people going through difficult situations, and even more so to those who served our country.”
Karen Moy, Communications, Media, and Events Director for the Veterans Village of San Diego (VVSD), noted the significance of the collaboration, calling it one of the most engaged events of the year. Moy said, “This was one of the most highly participated events outside of our Stand Down programs,” she said. “We truly appreciate Bellus Academy partnering with us again. It’s been years since our last collaboration, and we’re grateful to have you back.”
Bellus Academy’s participation in the Veterans Village’s annual Christmas lunch event is just one of the many community outreach efforts Bellus Academy engages in throughout the year. This collaboration opens the door to deeper partnerships between Bellus Academy and both the Veterans Village of San Diego and Father Joe’s Villages. Bellus Academy is proud to partner with these great community organizations, and we are honored to provide our services to the veterans who have served our country, and all the other valued community members these organizations serve. To learn more about Bellus Academy, and our career training programs, visit https://www.bellusacademy.edu/.
